Social Security
Do You Know Your COLA?
“COLA” – the annual Cost of Living Adjustment – is an important financial factor which most seniors look forward to each year with considerable anticipation. Especially due to recent inflation, COLA is how we can all keep up with rising…
Delaying Social Security: Risk vs. Reward
Most financial advisors will suggest that waiting for a higher Social Security benefit is a wise strategy, yet very few seniors actually heed that advice. In fact, only about 10% of all SS beneficiaries maximize their Social Security benefits by…
Social Security in 2026
Each year, the Social Security Administration implements changes which can effect you, even if you are not yet collecting retirement benefits. Those changes are largely based upon national economic conditions and, for higher earners, will affect how much SS tax…
Claiming Social Security at 62: Discussing the Pros and Cons
In this interesting article by Kerry Hannon at Yahoo! Finance, the author provides an interesting perspective about the wisdom of claiming Social Security retirement benefits at the earliest possible age (62). It has been an ongoing debate with many diverse…
Ask Rusty – Why Won’t Social Security Give me my Benefits?
Dear Rusty: I called the Social Security office, as well as went with my husband when he went to collect his Social Security. Because I work full-time (at about $800/week), they said I could not file for my Social Security.…
Social Security: It’s not just for the elderly!
What do you think of when you hear the term “Social Security?” Those words might conjure up thoughts like “senior citizens,” “retirement,’ or, perhaps, “golden years.” And while those monikers are at least partially descriptive of the American Social Security…
Watch Your Mailbox After Christmas. SSA-1099s In the Mail Soon
SSA-1099s and SSA-1042S will be available in your My Social Account online on Christmas Day. Social Security will begin mailing them out on December 26th, and they should all be received in the mail by the end of January. A…
Are You Ready to Retire in 2026?
When making your retirement decision, there are some things you should take into consideration. Your health, your expected longevity (of course no one knows how long they are going to live, so look at your family history), your other retirement…
Be Alert for Social Security Scams
If you receive a text, e-mail, or phone call saying it is someone from Social Security, odds are it’s a scam. Social Security will not initiate contact with you in these ways. Authentic Social Security Administration (SSA) contacts are almost…
The Maximum Social Security Benefit for 2026 is $5,181
If you delayed taking your Social Security until age 70 and are turning 70 in 2026, and paid Social Security taxes on the maximum taxable amount of earnings for 35 years, your benefit will be maxed out at $5,181. However,…